Belfast Harlequins reign: It was remiss of this column not to mention when addressing various issues in the AIB League last week Belfast Harlequins feat in putting themselves in an unassailable position in Division Two, winning the title with three rounds of matches still to play.

It represents a tremendous achievement by the Ulster club under the direction of their South African coach Andre Bester, formerly of Ballymena. They accomplished their passage to Division One for next season in style, manifest in their unbeaten run to date that has seen them winning all 12 matches.

They have scored an average of over 36 points a game and 62 tries in the process; that works out at over five per match. They also earned nine bonus points. Their statistics make them a very strong contender for club of the season.

Ronan who?

Who is Ronan O'Hara? The answer came in the form of a press release issued by the IRFU to the media at Lansdowne Road highlighting the fact the bold Ronan O'Hara is one of the favourite players of Irish team mascot for last Saturday at Lansdowne Road, Murrough Murnaghan.

According to the release the seven year old from Dublin "loves playing rugby and wants to play scrumhalf for Ireland when he is older. His favourite player is Keith Wood and he is sorry Woody can not play today." The missive continues: "He is also a big fan of Ronan O'Hara and he wishes the whole team well in the match against Scotland. Murrough goes to Loreto College on Stephen's Green where he enjoys spelling and sports." It would have been better for the IRFU if Murrough had written the press release. Is that the sound of breaking glass?

Joubert deluded

Cardiff's South African-born coach Rudy Joubert wins this week's Silver Lining Award for those who manage to see a glimmer of light on the darkest days. Joubert was down to a shortlist of two for the Springbok coaching job vacated by Harry Viljoen but finished second to Rudolf Straeuli, the Natal Sharks coach. Joubert conceded he was "disappointed" not to have got the position but maintained: "I still want to coach the Springboks one day." A gracious man he wished Straeuli the very best and hoped the latter would take the team pack to the top of world rugby's pecking order.

But Joubert wins our award for his next statement: "Now I can continue with this great job at Cardiff." He concluded with: "So I am happy to be part of what I consider to be the greatest club in Wales." This is of course the same Cardiff that missed out on the European Cup play-offs for the first time this season and are currently fourth in the Welsh/Scottish League.

On official duty

Saturday's match referee Nigel Whitehouse officiated his fifth Test match when taking charge at Lansdowne Road. It would be a favoured venue for the Welsh police sergeant (traffic division) as his first international as a referee was Ireland's game against Japan in 1998.

Win tickets

PLANET RUGBY is in a position to give away three pairs of stand tickets for Ireland's Six Nations Championship game against Italy at Lansdowne Road on March 23rd. We will give away two sets of tickets today and one pair next Monday and all those interested in winning have to do is answer a simple question each week.

For those who don't win the competition but still want to attend the Ireland-Italy game, they can purchase tickets on the official IRFU website at www.irishrugby.ie, an opportunity for all those who bemoan the fact that they normally can not gain access to international tickets.

This week's question is: Who scored Ireland's only try against England at Twickenham a fortnight ago? Answers should be e-mailed to josullivan@irish-times.ie.

Rugby speak

"We gave away a soft try which was a little annoying. I put it down not to great Irish play but a lazy defence." - England's defensive coach Phil Larder, not content with the fact that England thrashed Ireland 45-11 at Twickenham a fortnight ago, gave the English players an earful over "allowing" Ireland in for a single try in 80 minutes.

"Every time I played against the French, I broke my nose, which is why it's in such a mess now. I'd leave Newport on the Thursday and say to my wife: 'Look at my face love, because it isn't going to look like this when I get back'." - Former Welsh legend Bobby Windsor recalls the days when the physical violence in rugby was at its peak in the 1970s, especially in the Wales-France games.

"We can never anywhere in South Africa get satisfactory accommodation at a game or a video monitor. They are supposed to be supplied under SANZAR rules and we (the Waratahs at the Sydney Football Stadium) supply a private box and a video to visiting coaches. We can't seem to get it in South Africa at all, which is of some concern to me as I think it's insulting to visitors. I would never like to do it to anyone visiting our country." - New South Wales coach Bob Dwyer bemoans the lack of facilities for rugby coaches watching games in South Africa. He didn't get any popcorn either.

Humphreys points way

David Humphreys overtook Michael Kiernan as Ireland's leading points scorer in the history of the sport with an 18-point haul against Scotland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. Humphreys broke Kiernan's old mark of 308 points in just 39 internationals, four fewer than it took Kiernan to set the mark.

Below are Ireland's top 10 all-time point scorers.

Player                       Cps   T   DGs   P   Cons   Pts

1 David Humphreys   39   2       7    72      33   313

2 Michael Kiernan     43   6       6    62      40   308

3 Eric Elwood             35    0       2    67      43   293

4 Ollie Campbell         22    1       7    54      15   217

5 Ronan O'Gara        18    3       0    33      38   190

6 Tom Kiernan            54    2       2    31      26   158

7 Tony Ward              19    0       4    29        7   113

8 Mike Gibson           69    9       6    16        7   112

9 Paul Burke              11    0       1     26     12    105

10 Ralph Keyes           8    1       2     22       9      94